Markers of intestinal permeability are already altered in early stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Autor(en)
Anika Nier, Anna Janina Engstler, Ina Barbara Maier, Ina Bergheim
Abstrakt

Background & aims: Recent studies have shown that patients with manifest non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), e.g. steatosis grade 3 or steatohepatitis with or without beginning fibrosis frequently show altered fecal microbiota composition and elevated bacterial endotoxin levels. However, if these alterations are signs of a progressing disease or are already found in initial disease stages has not yet been clarified. Methods: Twenty children with simple steatosis (grade 1) diagnosed by ultrasound and 29 normal weight healthy control children (age <10 years) were included in the study (mean age 7.6 ± 1.1 years). Metabolic parameters, markers of intestinal barrier function and inflammation were determined. Results: Activity of alanine aminotransferase, concentrations of some markers of inflammation and insulin resistance were significantly higher in plasma of NAFLD children than in controls. When compared to controls, plasma bacterial endotoxin and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels were significantly higher in NAFLD children (+50% and +24%, respectively), while soluble CD14 serum and D-lactate plasma levels as well as the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth did not differ between groups. Plasma endotoxin and LBP levels were positive associated with proinflammatory markers like plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, c-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and leptin while no associations with markers of insulin resistance were found. Conclusions: Taken together, our results indicate that even in juvenile patients with early stages of NAFLD e.g. simple steatosis grade 1, plasma endotoxin concentrations are already elevated further suggesting that intestinal barrier dysfunction might be present already in the initial phases of the disease.

Organisation(en)
Department für Ernährungswissenschaften
Externe Organisation(en)
Universität Hohenheim, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Journal
PLoS ONE
Band
12
Anzahl der Seiten
12
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183282
Publikationsdatum
09-2017
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
303009 Ernährungswissenschaften
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Allgemeine Agrar- und Biowissenschaften, General, Allgemeine Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/6dd5417c-da14-45a1-b4ed-8003932e7959